AP environmental science unit 7

primary pollutant

A pollutant that is put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural activity

- combustion

secondary pollutant

A primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds

CO

carbon monoxide

- source: incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

- health impact: headaches, dizziness, unconsciousness, death

CO2

carbon dioxide

- source: volcanoes, decomposition, respiration, combustion of hydrocarbons

- health impact: increased death from rates due to heat waves, severe storms, loss of agricultural productivity

SOx

sulfur oxides

- source: combustion of fossil fuels (coal)

- health impacts: irritate nose, throat, respiratory pathway, coughing, wheezing, tightness in chest

NOx

nitrogen oxides

- source: combustion of fossil fuels (gasoline)

- health impact: irritate respiratory track, headaches, nausea, difficulty breathing

photochemical smog

air pollution that forms from the interaction between chemicals in the air and sunlight

photochemical smog reactants

NOx, VOCs, sunlight

VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

group of primary pollutants that comes from gas, solvents, and evaporating chemicals; component of photochemical smog

- volatile: easily evaporates

- organic: hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon

An organic molecule consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.

VOC health effects

eye, nose, throat, irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, damage to liver and kidney and central nervous system, can cause cancer in animals and humans

VOC solutions

avoid products, purchase low VOC building materials, ventilation/air filtration

Clean Air Act of 1970

The law aimed at combating air pollution, by charging the EPA with protecting and improving the quality of the nation's air

- CO2, O3, lead, N2, PM, SO2

O3

ozone

tropospheric ozone

ground level ozone; is considered bad because it is closer to the earth making it more likely for someone to breathe it in. It is also more dangerous because it is made up of particulate matter.

stratospheric ozone

good ozone, produces oxygen molecules to interact with UV radiation and prevent 95% of it from reaching the surface

particulate matter (PM)

a small discrete mass of solid or liquid matter that remains individually dispersed in gas or liquid emissions (usually considered to be an atmospheric pollutant)

thermal inversion

The temperature inversion in which warm air traps cold air and pollutants near the earth

- creates poor air quality

acid rain

rain containing nitric and sulfuric acids

- can occur naturally or by secondary air pollutants

anthropogenic source of SOx

coal burning power plants

anthropogenic source of NOx

motor vehicles and burning of coal power plants

acid rain effects

- corrosion of human made structure

- limestone structures deteriorate

- damage to tree leaves/needles

- infiltrate groundwater

- runoff into surface waters

- acidic soils increase Al toxicity to plant and affect availability of some nutrients

methods to reduce air pollution

scrubbers, electrostatic precipitator, catalytic converter, vapor recovery system

scrubber

A device that is used to remove some pollutants before they are released by smokestacks

- scrubs SOx and PM emissions

Vapor recovery system

Process used to capture and recover vapors

- nozzle on gas pumps prevent fuels (VOCs) from escaping

indoor air pollutants

Substances that contribute to poor indoor air quality and may lead to health problems or other undesirable effects

- nitrogen dioxide (NO2); carbon monoxide (NO); asbestos; volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde; allergens produced by dust mites; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); fine particles; and radon (Rn), particulate matter (PM)

mold

common in poor ventilated areas, damp/humid areas in homes

- allergic reactions/asthma/respiratory issues

- use ventilation to control

Asbestos

a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as brake linings

- PM pollution

- naturally composed mineral

- cancers/diseases like mesothelioma

Lead (air pollution)

found in old paint, chipped/deteriorating paint can create dust particles

- remodeling, dry scraping

radon

A gas that arises from the earth where radioactive materials are present

- produced with decay of uranium

- moves into home though cracks/holes

- dissolves into ground water

- second leading cause of lung cancer

noise pollution

Any unwanted, disturbing, or harmful sound that impairs or interferes with hearing, causes stress, hampers concentration and work efficiency, or causes accidents

- higher in urban areas

- masks sounds for animal communication/hunting

- damages ecolocation

- changes migratory routes